Friday, July 29, 2011

Dehydration

As a runner staying hydrated is so important. One of the first lessons you learn when you choose to cross over to distance runner is that understanding hydration is so important. You also have to understand electrolytes as well, because keeping the balance between electrolytes and hydration is essential. While on runs you never question if you should bring water with you, you just do.

The past couple of weeks have been hot, and while it should be an instinct to bring water with me and keep drinking, it is not that way. Being outside, playing in the water, having a good time, remembering to stay hydrated is difficult. Lets face it when you are playing in a lake, you are cool, and not feeling the effects of the sun so remembering to drink, well just does not happen.

Being pulled on the raft behind the jet ski

So after a long day I came in, realized I needed to drink, started feeling better and headed to bed. The next day was a repeat, more fun in the sun, playing in the water. By the end of the day something was wrong. I just did not feel good. I tried to drink more, or I thought I was, but in reality I was not. So I woke up in pain, migraine headache, and just not feeling good.

It turned out I had heat exhaustion, and dehydration. While in hindsight I should have been at a local hospital getting fluids, I was at home sleeping most of the day. Now 2 days later I can finally eat, and sit up most of the day. I am still not feeling 100% but I am able to stay up most of the day. Instead of playing on the lake I am looking out the window at the lake. I know better at this time, my body is still fragile, I need to stay in and continue to recover.

Dehydration is scary, it is a place you want to avoid at all costs. From personal experience I can tell you that I was thinking one thing, and not able to get that across to others. I felt miserable. I just was not myself. I never want to go back there again. It is not a process that you can heal from over night either. This is going to take me a couple of days to get back to myself again. As a mother who loves to run, for me this is simply not the best option. I can't get out there and run. I can't get out there and do anything.

Remember in this hot weather, no matter what you are doing to make sure that you are staying hydrated. It is so very important to keep drinking, even if you don't think you need to. As soon as you start feeling bad make sure that you tell someone and get medical attention. Don't let it go like I did.